While voter registration leans slightly Democratic, at about 23 percent, compared with 22 percent Republican and most of the rest unaffiliated, the district has had solid GOP representation. Running for re-election are GOP Assemblymen Ronald Dancer and Robert Clifton. Dancer, of New Egypt, is an interviewer in the Ocean County Adjuster’s Office who has been in the Assembly for 14 years. Clifton, of Matawan, is director of local government affairs for Comcast Cable; he is finishing his second term in the lower house.

The Democrats running unopposed are David W. Merwin of Laurence Harbor and Anthony Washington of Matawan.